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Dietary intake of children at high risk for cardiovascular disease
Colleen Kelley1, Debra Krummel, Elizabeth N Gonzales
1Providence Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Insights
Children at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) had higher cholesterol levels, but similar dietary habits compared to low-risk peers. Early dietary interventions are crucial for preventing childhood CVD.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and obesity often originate in childhood.
- Early dietary interventions are essential for preventing long-term health issues.
- Family history is a significant risk factor for early-onset CVD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate dietary differences between children at high and low risk for CVD based on family history.
- To assess if high-risk children have poorer dietary habits compared to low-risk children.
- To determine the adherence to heart-healthy diet guidelines in at-risk pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 297 children for family history of early CVD.
- Measurement of height, weight, and finger-stick total cholesterol.
- Utilizing food frequency questionnaires to assess dietary intake.
Main Results:
- 23% of children were identified as being at high risk for CVD.
- High-risk children exhibited significantly higher cholesterol levels (4.71+/-0.93 mmol/L) than low-risk children (4.35+/-0.92 mmol/L).
- No significant differences were found in energy, fat, fiber, or cholesterol intake between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Children at high CVD risk do not necessarily have poorer dietary intake but do have elevated cholesterol.
- Adherence to heart-healthy diet guidelines was low in both high-risk and low-risk children.
- Families require targeted guidance to modify dietary patterns for CVD prevention in children.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease and obesity begin in childhood, and dietary interventions to prevent them should be initiated then. We hypothesized that children who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease based on family history would have diets that were different than those of children from low-risk families. Two hundred ninety-seven children were screened for family history of early cardiovascular disease; had height, weight, and finger-stick total cholesterol measured; and filled out food frequency questionnaires. Sixty-eight (23%) children were at risk for cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol was significantly higher compared with those not at risk (4.71+/-0.93 mmol/L vs 4.35+/-0.92 mmol/L, P=.005). Intakes of energy, fat, fiber, and cholesterol were similar between groups. Children at high risk for cardiovascular disease were no more likely to meet guidelines for heart-healthy diets than were children at low risk. Families need guidance to change dietary patterns to prevent future disease.
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